Good for something: TSA scanner finds passenger's meth

Rhonda Renee Simmons is scheduled to appear in court Jan. 12 on a felony charge of possession of a controlled substance after police say she got caught with about a gram of methamphetamine in her pocket Tuesday night at the Boise Airport.

Police were called to assist Boise Airport screeners with the federal Transportation Security Administration around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Police were told the 47-year-old Simmons went through the advanced imaging technology scanners at airport security when TSA employees detected an undisclosed "anomaly" in Simmons’ clothes, according to TSA reports.

When a TSA employee asked Simmons if anything was in her pockets, she pulled out a small baggie containing what was later determined to be the drug, according to police reports.

Simmons was then arrested and booked into the Ada County Jail. She was released Wednesday afternoon after posting a $5,000 bond, records say.

Dwayne Baird, a TSA spokesman, said Thursday the advanced imaging technology scanners detect "artfully concealed" metallic and non-metallic items on people who pass through them.

Baird said there have been more than 130 incidents in 2010 where TSA officials caught people trying to take concealed prohibited items through airport security.